A floor selector for an elevator car

ABSTRACT

A floor selector comprising a tracing means moved with the elevator movement, but on a reduced scale, and a preceding means driven ahead of the tracing means simultaneously with start of the elevator cage at a higher speed than the tracing means; wherein molded oscillators are installed on the tracing means, molded receivers are provided on the preceding means, and the outputs of the receiver are combined logically whereby various signals for controlling the elevator operation are obtained.

[ 1 Aug. 22, 1972 United States Patent Takashashi et al.

Krauer et A FLOOR SELECTOR FOR AN ELEVATOR CAR Primary ExaminerBe mard A. Gilheany Assistant ExaminerW. E. Duncanson, Jr. Attorney-Craig, Antonelli, Stewart & Hill [57] ABSTRACT A floor selector comprising a tracing means moved [73] Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Jan. 18, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 107,180

with the elevator movement, but on a reduced scale,

and a preceding means driven ahead of the tracing Foreign Application Priority Data means simultaneously with start of the elevator cage at Jan. 16, 1970 a higher speed than the tracing means; wherein Japan ........................45/3856 molded oscillators are installed on the tracing means, molded receivers are provided on the preceding means, and the outputs of the receiver are combined [51] Int. Cl. 1/52 58 Field of logically whereby various Signals for controlling the elevator operation are obtained.

10 Claims, 21 Drawing Figures References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,160,232 Savage..................... ...l87/29 PATENTEDwcz-a m2 SHEEI 010$ 80 FIG.

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H m H w QM w $4 R om b w m K... F %M 0 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a floor selector for controlling an elevator system, and more particularly to an improved floor selector in which the tracing means is driven at a speed corresponding to the elevator movement, but on a reduced scale, and a preceding means is movably driven ahead of the tracing means.

In the floor selector, the speed of the elevator is reduced to a reasonable speed by the use of reducing means, and the chain or screw mechanism for driving the floor selector is driven by the output gear of the reducing means. Thus, the tracing means disposed to be movable in the up and down directions is driven by the chain or screw at a speed corresponding to the elevator movement, but on a reduced scale. In such a floor selector, the preceding means always moves ahead of the movement of the tracing means and, when the preceding means reaches the selected floor, a link which is to engage with the stopper equipped to the frame of the floor selector is projected from the preceding means so as to stop the preceding means. The elevator speed is increased or decreased according to the relative difference between the tracing means and the preceding means. Also, the maximum speed of the elevator is determined by the moving relationship between the tracing means and the preceding means. This operation is called floor divisional operation wherein the maximum speed of the elevator is controlled according to the travel distance of the elevator.

The signal obtained from the floor selector is used not only for the speed control but for position indication, arrival pre-indication, and other various indications and controls.

In the conventional floor selector, many fingers are disposed onthe tracing means and preceding means, and many rows of fixed segments are disposed on the side of the frame of the floor selector corresponding to the fingers. To manage one control function, the relay is controlled by the finger and by a row of the fixed segments disposed opposite to the finger. In the ordinary elevator system, about kinds of controls are required to produce an increase or decrease of speed, and for signal indicators and other purposes. To meet this requirement, more than 15 rows of fixed segments must be provided. In this type of floor selector, a loose contact or other failure in one finger or in the facing segment row may not seriously affect other controls of the elevator system since the individual control functions are independent of each other. This is a noteworthy advantage of the floor selector which is provided with groups of contacts.

On the other hand, however, this floor selector has several drawbacks. For example, a complicated internal arrangement is required, and a large amount of wiring must be installed for the connection between the floor selector and the control board and switchboard which contains groups of control relays. Such wiring is normally performed at the site of the elevator installation and, accordingly, more labor is necessary and miswiring often occurs.

In view of the foregoing, an improvement over such arrangements has been proposed. According to this improvement, movable contacts are disposed on the tracing means and preceding means, about two rows of fixed contact groups facing the movable contacts are installed at the position corresponding to each floor, and the signals delivered from these contacts are combined logically whereby the relay groups contained in the switchboard are controlled. This method, though permitting reduction in the amount of wiring required between the boards, is not fully practicable because misoperation among the contact groups is inevitable. Namely, even one misoperation, such as a loose contact, affects the overall control circuit of the elevator system.

During installation of an elevator in a building (the elevator is normally installed while the building is under construction), the environment is extremelydusty. Hence, dust is easily deposited on the surfaces of the contacts even if they are cleaned beforehand. The dust generally remains permanently and later causes loose contacts here and there.

In addition, if the elevator is operated in a particular undesirable environment for metal, such as in a building located in a spa area, the surfaces of the contacts are often reuined in a short time by hydrogen sulfide gas or the like. The contacts can be protected against hydrogen sulfide gas by sealing the floor selector; however, the floor selector usually requires some adjustment after installation of the elevator. To do this, the floor selector must be unsealed and therefore it is inevitably exposed to the undesirable gas.

Floor level adjustmentis a typical example of adjustment on the floor selector at the installation site. This adjustment is accomplished on the side of the floor selector. The adjustment includes the installing of the segments and stoppers in the positions corresponding to the individual floor levels. Generally, there is a difference of 20 to 30 mm. between the actually measured level and the initially designed level, and it is not unusual to see an accumulated difference of one meter or so. In practice, the normally admitted error in the arrival of the elevator at each floor is 15 mm. This is why the floor selector must be adjusted after installation of the elevator.

In the floor selector of the contact type, the accuracy required for the part in which the fixed contact is superposed on the movable contact is as high as 1.75:0.25 mm. in order to maintain the contacts operable in a stable manner. In the prior art, therefore, highly skilled engineering techniques are necessary for the manufacture, installation and adjustment of the floor selector.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A general object of this invention is to provide a floor selector in which a contactless position detector is used for the tracing means as well as for the preceding means whereby the operating reliability is increased and the overall construction is simplified. More specifically, two sets of highly reliable position detectors are used to detect the positions of the preceding means and tracing means, and various controls are effected by the use of outputs of these detectors.

In short, the invention is characterized in that contactless position detectors are provided for the tracing means and preceding means, and various elevator controls are performed by the outputs of the position de- IGCKOI'S.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description thereof when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram in perspective showing an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 (A) is a schematic diagram showing a detailed part of the preceding means illustrated in FIG. 1, and FIG. 2 (B) is a diagram showing the relative arrangement of the position detectors of the tracing means and preceding means;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the operating principles of the zone position detector;

FIGS. 4A through 4C are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the position detector of the tracing means;

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a speed command control circuit;

FIG. 6 is a waveform diagram showing the operation of the circuit of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of a call detection control circuit;

FIGS. 8A through 8F are schematic diagrams showing the operation of the circuit of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of a slowdown control circuit;

FIGS. 10A through 10C are plan views which illustrate the operation of the tracing means and preceding means; and

FIG. 11 is a wave diagram showing slowdown command control operation.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a floor selector embodying this invention, wherein a drive tape 1 is connected to an elevator cage (not shown) and is driven at the same speed as the elevator cage. An output gear 2 of a slowdown device (not shown) is rotated at a reduced speed corresponding to the movement of the elevator cage on a reduced scale. An idler gear 3 is engaged with the output gear 2 by way of a drive chain 4. A tracing means 5 is mounted for sliding vertical movement on a guide rail 6, and is moved up and down at a speed corresponding to the elevator movement on a reduced scale by the drive chain 4.

A preceding means 7 is disposed in movable relationship to the tracing means 5. A guide rail 8 for guiding the preceding means 7 is supported by a support means 9 attached to the tracing means. The preceding means 7 is suspended at one end of a chain 10 by way of a gear (not shown), and a balance weight is held at the other end of the chain 10. The preceding means 7 is moved up and down on the rail 8 by an electric motor 11 mounted on the tracing means 5 via a rack and pinion (not shown).

The tracing means 5 is provided with a molded oscillator 12 which is provided to detect the position of the tracing means 5 as it moves up and down on rail 6. This oscillator comprises left and right oscillator units 12L and 12R. Each of the oscillator units includes a built-in miniature solid state oscillator capable of constantly generating a stable oscillation even in an undesirable environment. The preceding means 7 is also provided with an oscillator 13 for detecting the position of the preceding means 7. This oscillator comprises upper and lower oscillator units 13U and 13D.

Receivers 14 and 15 fixed at positions corresponding to the floor levels of the elevator are mounted on the frame of the floor selector. The receiver 14 comprises receiver units 14L and 14R corresponding to the pair of oscillator units 12L and 12R operated for two systems respectively, a respective pair of receiver units being provided for each floor position and being positionally adjustable in the vertical direction. The receiver 15 is also provided with a receiver unit for each floor.

For explanatory simplicity, only the receivers 14 and 15 corresponding to one floor are shown in FIG. 1. Practically, these receivers 14 and 15 are disposed at positions corresponding to the individual floor intervals. Thus, each time the elevator cage arrives at a floor, the oscillators 12 and 13 for the floor level face the receivers 14 and 15, and the receivers generate output signals. Thus, the receivers and oscillators in combination are operated as a contactless position detector.

The tracing means 5 is provided with a magnet 19 which, when excited, attracts a moving piece 20. This moving piece rotates on a support pin 21. An expanded portion 22 pushes rotary parts 25 and 26 equipped to cranks 23 and 24 (FIG. 2A), and thus crank shafts 27 and 28 rotate clockwise and counterclockwise, respectively. As a result, a link 29 rotates clockwise, and a link 30 counterclockwise, to expand the reset spring 31. With the links 29 and 30 rotated, the free ends thereof are positioned out of alignment with stop members representing the respective floors; however, release of the magnet 19 will allow the spring 31 to rotate these links back to positions where they may engage a stop member and stop movement of the preceding means 7. A respective stopper 33 for each floor is mounted on a floor rod 32 disposed perpendicular to the frame of the floor selector. This stopper is located at a position corresponding to the actual floor level of the elevator system. FIG. 1 shows this arrangement, but only for one floor.

The oscillator 13 disposed on the preceding means 7 moves ahead of the actual position of the elevator cage by the force of motor 11, and stops at the floor from which a call comes in. The oscillator 12 follows the oscillator 13. In order to detect the relative positional difference between the tracing means 5 and the preceding means 7, which movements are synchronized with the elevator, a contactless relative position detector is provided.

FIG. 2(A) is a schematic diagram illustrating the preceding means 7 and the relative position detector provided thereby. The preceding means 7 is provided with a horizontal arm 35 which is mounted on the preceding means 7, and an oscillator 36, forming part of an approach switch, is disposed on the arm 35. A plate 37 is attached to the tracing means 5, and one receiver 38 of a system of receivers is disposed facing said oscillator 36 oscillator unit 36U).

Referring to FIG. 23, there is shown an arrangement of the oscillator 36 and receiver 38, wherein the distance D between the tracing means 5 and the preceding means 7 is detected, and the travel distance of the elevator and also the slowdown start point are determined by this distance D. For upward operation, the preceding means 7 moves upward, the oscillator unit 36U also moves upward, and the preceding means stops upon detecting a call. In this way, the oscillator unit 36U faces the receiver units 38U9, 38U8, 38U2, and 38U1 in succession, and then returns to the neutral position when the elevator stops at the called floor. For downward operation, the movement of the tracing means 5 and the preceding means 7 is reverse to that for upward operation, although the relative movement of the two means is exactly the same as described above. The distance D between the tracing means and preceding means is detected, whereby the slowdown command is delivered.

The arm 35 is also equipped with a magnetic detector 39, forming part of a zone position detector 43. The detector 43 is made up of the magnetic detector 39 and shield plates 41 attached to the floor rod 40, which is in turn attached perpendicularly to the frame of the floor selector. The two shield plates which are shown represent two respective floors. Because the shield plate 41 is provided at each floor, an output signal is generated from the magnetic detector 39 by the shield plate as each floor is passed.

Referring to FIG. 3, the operating principle of the zone position detector will be described. This detector oscillates when the feedback coil L3 is coupled with the input coil L1, that is, when the shield plate 41 is not inserted therebetween, and thus an output is delivered from the output coil L2. As a result, the output E (O) of the logical circuit 43L turns off, and the output C (6) comes on. When the shield plate 41 is inserted between the coils, the coupling between the coils L3 and L1 becomes loose, and the coil L2 stops delivering an output. Therefore, the output E (O) of the logical circuit comes on, and the output C turns off.

FIGS. 4A through 4C are diagrams showing the operation of the position detector for the tracing means illustrated in FIG. 1. In these figures, the oscillator units 12L and 12R are disposed in the same positions on the tracing means as seen in FIG. 1. The receiver units 14Ll through 14L5 and MR2 through 14R6 are provided one pair for each floor, and their positions are mutually displaced by a slight amount in the vertical direction. The receiver units 14L1 through 14L5 deliver an output when they face the center C of the oscillator unit 12L. Similarly, the receiver units 14R2 through 14R6 deliver an output when they face the center C of the oscillator unit 12R. When one of the pair of receiver units of a floor delivers an output, it is judged that the tracing means (elevator) is at the level of the corresponding floor. Namely, in the state as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the output of the receiver 14 is as seen in FIG. 4C.

In general, the floor distance of an elevator system is not constant, and is determined only after installation of the elevator. Accordingly, it is impossible to predetermine the position of the receiver 14 of the floor selector. In FIG. 4C, the floor zones lFZ through 6FZ can be arbitrarily adjusted by adjusting the position of the receiver units 14L and 14R when the elevator is installed. Thus, the elevator floor distance can be adjusted to the actual building floor distance.

FIG. shows a control circuit utilizing the output of said zone position detector (FIG. 3) for generating the speed command signal. The outputs of AND circuits ANDl through AND4 are supplied to memory circuits MEl and MEZ, which may be provided as flip-flop circuits. The output E (O) of the zone position detector is applied to AND circuits ANDl and AND2, and the output C (O) is applied to AND circuits AND3 and AND4. The outputs U and V of the memory circuit MEI are applied as gate signals to thyristors THYAI through THYA9 via diodes D1 through D9. Speed instruction relays 21F through 29F, when energized, deliver signals to the elevator speed control system, thereby changing the speed thereof. In the Ward Leonard system, for example, the resistor connected in series with the field coil of the generator is inserted into the system or disconnected therefrom. For purposes of explanation, the speed setting on the relays is assumed as follows.

(speed: m/minute) 21F 90m/min. 24F: lm/min. 27F: 270m/min. 22F: I80m/min. 25F: ZIOm/min. 28F 300m/min. 23F: ISOm/min. 26F: 240m/min. 29F: 330m/min.

During starting operation, the speed instruction relay 20F applies to the speed control system a command for moving the elevator smoothly at a moderate speed.

F IG. 7 shows a call detection control circuit, wherein the floor number indicator button in the elevator cage or the call button on the floor is pushed, a signal is supplied to the gates of thyristors THY1 through THYIO from a circuit (not shown), and one of the indicators L1 through L10 corresponding to the called floor is illuminated. The numeral following the capital letter indicates the floor number.

Contacts 15M1 through 15M10 are closed when the oscillator 13 (FIG. 1) faces the receiver 15. For example, when the preceding means 7 reaches the second floor, the contact 15M2 is closed. The detection relay C is energized in the manner to be described below, when the preceding means 7 comes to the zone a certain distance before the floor at which a call is registered. Then, the relay 90C self-holds after closing the contacts 90C-1 and 90C-2. A gate signal is supplied to the thyristor ZP for the period an output is present at the output terminal C (6) of the zone position detector 43.

The contacts 15C-1 and 15C-2 are closed during the running of the elevator, and the contact 21D-2 is closed when the elevator slows down its speed to a certain specific value. When the contact 21D-2 is closed during slowdown of the elevator, an AC source EL supplies a reverse bias voltage to the thyristors THY]. through TI-IY10 by way of the contact 15C-2, to turn off these thyristors; although, only the thyristor associated with the floor at which the elevator is stopping will turn off since only the contact 15M of that floor will be closed at the time.

As has been described, the oscillator 13 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises upper and lower oscillator units 13U and 13D; the oscillator unit 13U is operated for upward operation, and oscillator unit 13D is operated for downward operation. The receiver units 15U1 through 15U6 generate an output when the centers of the oscillator units 13U and 13D come to the positions facing these receiver units. FIG. 8 illustrates the operation in connection with the receiver units, wherein (A) shows the width of the receiver unit 15U, (B) the output zone of the receiver unit operated when the elevator moves upward, and (C) the operation zone when the elevator is in the downward operation. FIGS. 8B and 8C show that the receiver unit delivers an output when the center C of the oscillator 13 is located within the frames shown in the figure. FIG. 8D shows the output appearing at the output terminal E(O) of the zone position detector 43. Namely, the output of the output terminal C(O) is in on state, excepting for the area indicated by oblique lines in FIG. 8D.

Assume that the elevator is rising. Then the oscillator unit l3U moves upward with the preceding means generating an oscillation output. Assume also that a call is generated at the fifth floor. If so, the thyristor Tl-IYS turns on, and the indicator lamp L5 is illuminated. When the preceding means 7 goes up and the center C of the oscillator 13 comes into the operation zone of the fifth floor 5F, as seen in FIG. 8B, the contact M5 is closed. By this means, the call detection relay 90C is energized by way of the circuit: to ZP to 90C to 90C-3 to 15M5 to TI-IYS to At other floors, the contacts 15M2 through 15M4 are closed in succession; however, the relay 90C is not energized at these floors since the thyristors THYZ through Tl-IY4 are in off state. When the call detection relay 90C is energized, the contact 90C-3 is opened and the contact 90C-2 is closed. The detection relay 90C is self-held because the contact 90C-2 is closed before the contact 90C-3 is opened. When the preceding means further goes up and the zone position detector operates, the output C(G), as seen in FIG. 3, vanishes and the gate signal to the thyristor ZP ceases. In this state, however, the relay 90C stays in operation.

As described above, the detection relay 90C is energized only when the gate signal is preser 1t at the thyristor ZP (namely, when the output C(O) of the zone position detector is present) and the receiver unit 15U delivers an output and one of the thyristors THYl through THY10 is in on state.

In other words, the elevator can respond to a call when the center C of the oscillator 13 is located within the zone as in FIG. 8E during upward operation, or when it is located within the zone as in FIG. 8F during downward operation.

For example, when a call is from fifth floor, the call is registered after the center of the oscillator 13 has passed through the fifth floor operation zone as in FIG. 8B. In this state, the call detection relay 90C is not energized even if the thyristor Tl-IYS turns on. As a result, the elevator goes through the fifth floor. Namely, the elevator can respond only to the call existing in the range which can decelerate or stop the elevator cage.

FIG. 9 shows a slowdown control circuit, wherein the slowdown command relays 21D through 29D control the control relays 21F through 29F shown in FIG. 5. The thyristors TI-IYUl through TI-IYU9 and THYDl through THYD9 are controlled by the oscillator unit 36U, receiver units 38U1 through 38U9 and 38D1 through 38D9.

For example, when the call detection relay 90C is energized, to close the contact 90C-5, and the oscillator unit 36U installed at the preceding means stops at the floor where a call is generated, the receiver units shown in FIG. 2 face the oscillator unit 36U in succession as the tracing means goes up. By this means, the gate signal is given sequentially to the thyristors THYU9, TI-IYU8, THYUI in this order, and the slowdown relays 29D, 28D, 21D are energized in this order.

In the arrangement as described above, the elevator at the 1st floor is operated to come up to the fifth floor in the following manner. When a man on the 5th floor pushes the call button or a man in the elevator cage pushes the button for the fifth floor, a device (not shown) is actuated, the gate signal is supplied to the thyristor THYS (FIG. 7), and the indicator lamp L5 is illuminated.

When the elevator cage is on the 1st floor, the shield plate 41Ml (FIG. 8) faces the magnetic detector 39 of the zone position detector 43. In this state, the output E (O) is on and C (G) is off, as described with reference to FIG. 3.

In FIG. 5, the reset signal R is on when the elevator is stopped and, therefore, the output U of the memory circuit MEI is on, V is off, output S of the memory circuit ME2 is on, and T is off.

Accordingly, the output of the AND circuit ANDl is off, output of AND2 is on, and outputs of AND3 and AND4 are off. Under this condition, the thyristors THYAZ, THYA4, THYA6 and THYAS are given a gate signal, but are not conducting. Now, an operation direction selector device (not shown) is actuated to deliver a command for moving the elevator upward. By this means, the contacts l5C-l through 15C-3 are closed, and the motor 11 (FIG. 1) is rotated in the forward direction to lift the preceding means 7 ahead of the tracing means 5. The contact lSC-3 is closed to energize the relay 20F. Thus, the elevator starts moving smoothly and then is accelerated.

When the elevator starts operation, the reset signal R vanishes. On the other hand, the memory circuit stores the above state. Under this condition, the positional relationship between the tracing means and preceding means is as shown in FIG. 10A.

When the preceding means starts going up, the shield plate 41M1 of the first floor comes out of the magnetic detector 39, and the output E (O) of the zone position detector 43 turns off, and the output C (0) turns on. As a result, the inputs U and C (O) of AND circuit AND4 turns on, and the output thereof turns on. This output acts to turn on the output T of the memory circuit ME2 and turn off the output S.

Then, the shield plate 41M2 of the second floor faces the magnetic detector 39, to turn on the output E (O) of th e zone position detector 43 and turn off the output E (0). As a result, the output of the AND circuit ANDl becomes on, the output U of the memory circuit MEl goes off, and the output V comes on. The output V is applied as a gate signal to the thyristor THYAI via the diode D5, to energize the relay 21F. The contact 20F-l is closed by the relay 20F. The relay 21F has the function of increasing the speed of the elevator to m/minute. The 2nd floor shield plate 41M2 comes out of the magnetic detector 39, the output E (O) of the zone position detector 43 turns off, and the output C (6) turns on. By this means, the AND circuit AND3 delivers an output to turn on the output S and turn off the output T of the memory circuit ME2.

The outputs E (O) and C (6) of the zone position detector 43 repeat on-off conditions alternately, the outputs U and V of the memory circuit MEl turn on-off each time the shield plate 41 of each floor faces the magnetic detector 39, and the relays 22F and 23F are energized and held sequentially. The preceding means 7 goes up to the th floor and stops there.

In this state, the output E (O) of the zone position detector 43 turns on and C (6) turns off. The thyristor TI-IYA4 is made conducting by the output U of the memory circuit MEI, and the relay 24F is energized. Thus, the elevator is accelerated to a speed of l80m/min., which is limited by the relay 24F. In the above manner, the zone position detector 43 detects the operation floor distance and selects the maximum speed for the elevator according to the floor interval.

When the preceding means 7 reaches the fifth floor, the center C of the oscillator 13 comes into the operation zone shown in FIG. 8E, and the call detection relay 90C is energized, as seen in FIG. 7. When the call detection relay is actuated, the motor 11 (FIG. 1) is disconnected from the power source, and the magnet 19 is de-energized. Thus, the moving piece 20 which has been attracted is released, and the expanded part 22 is moved back. By this means, the crank shaft 27 is rotated counterclockwise, the link 29 is projected as shown in FIG. 108 to engage with the stopper 3385 of the fifth floor, and the preceding means 7 is stopped. The link 30 is held so that it will not come out during rise of the preceding means 7. For this purpose, a mechanism (not shown) is used. The link 29 is held back during downward movement of the preceding means 7.

When the call detection relay 90C is energized, the contact 90C-5 (FIG. 9) is closed. Now assume that the oscillator unit 36U of the preceding means 7 faces the receiver unit 38U6 of the tracing means 5 when the link 29 engages with the stopper 3385 in the manner described above. The output of the receiver unit 38U6 is supplied to the thyristor TI-IYU6 (FIG. 9), and the slowdown command relay 26D is energized. The contact 26D-1 of the relay 26D is opened (FIG. 5), but the speed command is not changed, and the elevator continues increasing its speed according to the speed command of l80m/min. from the relay 24F.

The tracing means 5 goes up with the movement of the elevator, and the oscillator unit 36U comes up to face the receiver unit 38U5. Then, the slowdown relay D is energized in the manner described above, and the contact 25D-l thereof is opened; however, the speed command is kept at l80m/min.

When the oscillator unit 36U comes up to face the receiver unit 38U4 and the thyristor TI-IYU4 becomes conducting, the slowdown command relay 24D is energized. As a result, the contact 24D-1 is opened, and the relay 24F is de-energized. By this means, the speed command is reduced to l50m/min., and the elevator starts slowing down its speed.

In the same way, an output is generated from the receiver units 38U3, 38U2 and 38U1 in succession, the relays 23F, 22F and 21F are de-energized in this order, and the speed command is further reduced from 120 to 90m/min.

When the elevator cage comes to the position a specific distance before the target floor level, the position detector (not shown) provided in the elevator shaft structure is actuated to deliver a slowdown/stop command according to the distance of the elevator cage from the target floor level. This command is applied to the speed control system. Then, the command device, as seen in FIG. 5, stops operation and the elevator slows down its speed in response to the speed command.

Immediately before the elevator cage stops at the fifth floor, the link 30 is projected by the mechanism (not shown). When the elevator stops perfectly at the fifth floor, the links 29 and 30 are withdrawn for the next operation (FIG. 10A).

FIG. 111 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the speed command for gradual slowdown from 330m/min. The speed command relays 29F through 21F are deenergized in succession according to the operation of the receiver units 38U and 38D.

According to this invention, as has been described, two pairs of contactless position detectors are used to detect the positions of the tracing means and preceding means whereby various controls on the elevator system are made possible and the wiring and construction can be markedly simplified.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it is to be understood that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the principles of the invention. For example, molded oscillators are disposed on the preceding means and molded receiver units are provided on the side of the frame of the floor selector in the positions corresponding to the individual floor levels of the elevator system so as to obtain outputs when the oscillator faces the receiver. By this arrangement, it becomes possible, in the event of a power failure, to resume normal elevator operation immediately after restoration of power.

The invention makes various advantages available as described above; for example, the floor selector is perfectly free of undesirable gas, dust, etc. and can thus maintain stable operation at all times.

We claim:

ll. In a floor selector for an elevator car comprising tracing means mounted for up and down movement for indicating the relative position of said elevator car, drive means for moving said tracing means in correlation to said elevator car but at a reduced speed, preceding means mounted for up and down movement on said tracing means for indicating a called floor at which said elevator car is to stop, further drive means mounted on said tracing means for moving said preceding means at a higher speed than said tracing means to a position corresponding to said called floor, and control means responsive to the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means for controlling the speed of movement of said elevator, the improvement compris ing first and second position detector means, each having respective non-contact movable and stationary detecting means for detecting the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means, wherein the outputs of said position detectors are applied to said control means in control thereof, and wherein said non-contact movable and stationary detecting elements comprise electrical oscillator elements provided on said tracing means and said preceding means, and electrical receiver elements provided at positions corresponding to respective floors in alignment with said oscillator elements, whereby outputs from the position detectors are produced when an oscillator element faces a corresponding receiver element.

2, The combination defined in claim 1, wherein two oscillator elements are provided on said preceding means, one oscillator element being energized during upward movement and the other oscillator element being energized during downward movement.

3. In a fioor selector for an elevator car comprising tracing means mounted for up and down movement for indicating the relative position of said elevator car, drive means for moving said tracing means in correlation to said elevator car but at a reduced speed, preceding means mounted for up and down movement on said tracing means for indicating a called floor at which said elevator car is to stop, further drive means mounted on said tracing means for moving said preceding means at a higher speed than said tracing means to a position corresponding to said called floor, and control means responsive to the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means for controlling the speed of movement of said elevator, the improvement comprising first and second position detector means, each having respective non-contact movable and stationary detecting elements for detecting the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means, wherein the outputs of said position detectors are applied to said control means in control thereof, and further comprising zone detector means for detecting the number of floors passed by said preceding means from start to stop in responding to a call including a zone detector mounted on said preceding means and a fixed element provided at positions corresponding to respective floors, said zone detector producing an output signal each time it faces one of said fixed elements, said output signal being applied to said control means.

4. The combination defined in claim 3, wherein said non-contact movable and stationary detecting elements comprise electrical oscillator elements provided on said tracing means and said preceding means, and electrical receiver elements provided at positions corresponding to respective floors in alignment with said oscillator elements, whereby outputs from the position detectors are produced when an oscillator element faces a corresponding receiver element.

5. The combination defined in claim 4, wherein two oscillator elements are provided on said preceding means, one oscillator element being energized during upward movement and the other oscillator element being energized during downward movement.

6. In a floor selector for an elevator car comprising tracing means mounted for up and down movement for indicating the relative position of said elevator car, drive means for moving said tracing means in correla tion to said elevator car but at a reduced speed, preceding means mounted for up and down movement on said tracing means for indicating a called floor at which said elevatorcar is to stop, further drive means mounted on said tracing means for moving said preceding means at a higher speed than said tracing means to a position corresponding to said called floor, and control means responsive to the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means for controlling the speed of movement of said elevator, the improvement comprising first and second position detector means, each having respective non-contact movable and stationary detecting elements for detecting the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means, wherein the outputs of said position detectors are applied to said control means in control thereof, and further including relative position detector means mounted on said tracing means and said preceding means for detecting the relative distance in floors therebetween, said relative position detector means being connected to said control means for effecting controlled deceleration of said elevator car in dependence on said relative distance between said tracing means and said preceding means, wherein said relative position detector means includes an electrical oscillator element mounted on said preceding means and a plurality of electrical receiver elements mounted at fixed positions on said tracing means representing respective floors, said receiver elements producing a signal each time said oscillator element passes adjacent thereto.

7. The combination defined in claim 6, further comprising zone detector means for detecting the number of fioors passed by said preceding means from start to stop in responding to a call including a zone detector mounted on said preceding means and a fixed element provided at positions corresponding to respective floors, said zone detector producing an output signal each time it faces one of said fixed elements, said output signal being applied to said control means.

8. The combination defined in claim 7, wherein said control means includes speed control means responsive to said zone detector means for increasing the speed of said elevator car as each floor is detected in steps up to a maximum speed and responsive to said relative position detector means and the stopping of said preceding means at a called floor for decreasing the speed of said elevator car in corresponding steps as each floor is passed.

9. The combination defined in claim 8, wherein each of said oscillator elements and receiver elements are in the form of molded solid state devices.

10. In a floor selector for an elevator car comprising tracing means mounted for up and down movement for indicating the relative position of said elevator car, drive means for moving said tracing means in correlation to said elevator car but at a reduced speed, preceding means mounted for up and down movement on said tracing means for indicating a called floor at which said elevator car is to stop, further drive means mounted on said tracing means for moving said preceding means at a higher speed than said tracing means to a position corresponding to said called floor, and control means responsive to the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means for controlling the speed of movement of said elevator, the improvement comprising first and second position detector means, each having respective non-contact movable and stationary detecting elements for detecting the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means, wherein the outputs of said position detectors are applied to said control means in control thereof, and wherein at least one of said position detectors includes a pair of movable devices provided on one of said tracing means and said preceding means, and two rows of fixed devices provided in pairs at positions corresponding to the respective floors, said fixed devices being adjustable as to position in the direction of arrangement of the floors, said pairs of fixed devices including means for producing an output signal to be applied to said control means each time a movable device passes adjacent thereto. 

1. In a floor selector for an elevator car comprising tracing means mounted for up and down movement for indicating the relative position of said elevator car, drive means for moving said tracing means in correlation to said elevator car but at a reduced speed, preceding means mounted for up and down movement on said tracing means for indicating a called floor at which said elevator car is to stop, further drive means mounted on said tracing means for moving said preceding means at a higher speed than said tracing means to a position corresponding to said called floor, and control means responsive to the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means for controlling the speed of movement of said elevator, the improvement comprising first and second position detector means, each having respective non-contact movable and stationary detecting means for detecting the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means, wherein the outputs of said position detectors are applied to said control means in control thereof, and wherein said noncontact movable and stationary detecting elements comprise electrical oscillator elements provided on said tracing means and said preceding means, and electrical receiver elements provided at positions corresponding to respective floors in alignment with said oscillator elements, whereby outputs from the position detectors are produced when an oscillator element faces a corresponding receiver element.
 2. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein two oscillator elements are provided on said preceding means, one oscillator element being energized during upward movement and the other oscillator element being energized during downward movement.
 3. In a floor selector for an elevator car comprising tracing means mounted for up and down movement for indicating the relative position of said elevator car, drive means for moving said tracing means in correlation to said elevator car but at a reduced speed, preceding means mounted for up and down movement on said tracing means for indicating a called floor at which said elevator car is to stop, further drive means mounted on said tracing means for moving said preceding means at a higher speed than said tracing means to a position corresponding to said called floor, and control means responsive to the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means for controlling the speed of movement of said elevator, the improvement comprising first and second position detector means, each having respective non-contact movable and stationary detecting elements for detecting the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means, wherein the outputs of said position detectors are applied to said control means in control thereof, and further comprising zone detector means for detecting the number of floors passed by said preceding means from start to stop in responding to a call including a zone detector mounted on said preceding means and a fixed element provided at positions corresponding to respective floors, said zone detector producing an output signal each time it faces one of said fixed elements, said output signal being applied to said control means.
 4. The combination defined in claim 3, wherein said non-contact movable and stationary detecting elements comprise electrical oscillator elements provided on said tracing means and said preceding means, and electrical receiver elements provided at positions corresponding to respective floors in alignment with said oscillator elements, whereby outputs from the position detectors are produced when an oscillator element faces a corresponding receiver element.
 5. The combination defined in claim 4, wherein two oscillator elements are provided on said preceding means, one oscillator element being energized during upward movement and the other oscillator element being energized during downward movement.
 6. In a floor selector for an elevator car comprising tracing means mounted for up and down movement for indicating the relative position of said elevator car, drive means for moving said tracing means in correlation to said elevator car but at a reduced speed, preceding means mounted for up and down movement on said tracing means for indicating a called floor at which said elevator car is to stop, further drive means mounted on said tracing means for moving said preceding means at a higher speed than said tracing means to a position corresponding to said called floor, and control means responsive to the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means for controlling the speed of movement of said elevator, the improvement comprising first and second position detector means, each having respective non-contact movable and stationary detecting elements for detecting the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means, wherein the outputs of said position detectors are applied to said control means in control thereof, and further including relative position detector means mounted on said tracing means and said preceding means for detecting the relative distance in floors therebetween, said relative position detector means being connected to said control means for effecting controlled deceleration of said elevator car in dependence on said relative distance between said tracing means and said preceding means, wherein said relative position detector means includes an electrical oscillator element mounted on said preceding means and a plurality of electrical receiver elements mounted at fixed positions on said tracing means representing respective floors, said receiver elements producing a signal each time said oscillator element passes adjacent thereto.
 7. The combination defined in claim 6, further comprising zone detector means for detecting the number of floors passed by said preceding means from start to stop in responding to a call including a zone detector mounted on said preceding means and a fixed element provided at positions corresponding to respective floors, said zone detector producing an output signal each time it faces one of said fixed elements, said output signal being applied to said control means.
 8. The combination defined in claim 7, wherein said control means includes speed control means responsive to said zone detector means for increasing the speed of said elevator car as each floor is detected in steps up to a maximum speed and responsive to said relative position detector means and the stopping of said preceding means at a called floor for decreasinG the speed of said elevator car in corresponding steps as each floor is passed.
 9. The combination defined in claim 8, wherein each of said oscillator elements and receiver elements are in the form of molded solid state devices.
 10. In a floor selector for an elevator car comprising tracing means mounted for up and down movement for indicating the relative position of said elevator car, drive means for moving said tracing means in correlation to said elevator car but at a reduced speed, preceding means mounted for up and down movement on said tracing means for indicating a called floor at which said elevator car is to stop, further drive means mounted on said tracing means for moving said preceding means at a higher speed than said tracing means to a position corresponding to said called floor, and control means responsive to the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means for controlling the speed of movement of said elevator, the improvement comprising first and second position detector means, each having respective non-contact movable and stationary detecting elements for detecting the positions of said tracing means and said preceding means, wherein the outputs of said position detectors are applied to said control means in control thereof, and wherein at least one of said position detectors includes a pair of movable devices provided on one of said tracing means and said preceding means, and two rows of fixed devices provided in pairs at positions corresponding to the respective floors, said fixed devices being adjustable as to position in the direction of arrangement of the floors, said pairs of fixed devices including means for producing an output signal to be applied to said control means each time a movable device passes adjacent thereto. 